Cartouche with Chinoiserie Motifs
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-94-664
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Created around 1740 by French artist Alexis Peyrotte, *Cartouche with Chinoiserie Motifs* captures the playful elegance of the Rococo period. Peyrotte, celebrated for his ornamental designs, crafted this print as a decorative cartouche—an elaborate frame—adorned with fanciful Asian-inspired elements such as pagodas, exotic figures, and delicate foliage. Though the exact medium remains unspecified, its classification as a print highlights how such designs were widely circulated for use in textiles, wallpapers, and furniture. This work reflects Europe’s eighteenth-century fascination with Chine...